‘Germany’s Grammy’ honored a pair vowing to ‘make another Holocaust.’ Now, the awards show is scrapped.

Democracy Dies in Darkness Sections Home Try 1 month for $1 Username Sign In Account Profile Newsletters & Alerts Gift Subscriptions Contact Us Help Desk Subscribe Account Profile Newsletters & Alerts Gift Subscriptions Contact Us Help Desk Accessibility for screenreader WorldViews by Rick Noack by Rick Noack Email the author April 25 at 12:22 PM Email the author German rappers Kollegah & Farid Bang received the “Hip-Hop/Urban national” award during the 2018 Echo Music Awards this month. (Axel Schmidt/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images) BERLIN — Germany’s Echo Music Awards were long the equivalent of the Grammys, celebrating fame, money and, during its most recent ceremony, anti-Semitism, misogyny and homophobia, its critics say. Now, Germany’s most prestigious music awards are being scrapped. The decision comes amid a public outcry after a rap duo was honored for lyrics that critics have described as deeply offensive. In their award-winning album, German rappers Kollegah and Farid Bang claim their bodies are “more defined than those of Auschwitz inmates.” In a different song, the rappers boast they’ll “make another Holocaust.” [Video shows belt-wielding assailant screaming ‘Jew’ as he attacks two people on a Berlin street] On the evening of Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 12, their work was honored with Germany’s most important music award. And, despite the symbolism, it looked as though the duo would get away with it. Germany’s music industry initially refrained from condemning the popular musicians, who have broken several commercial records with their most recent — and most controversial — album. Their record label, BMG, refused to cancel their lucrative contracts, arguing that the lyrics were “art”… [Read full story]